Hawaii State Foundation On Culture and The Arts - Arts And Culture Opportunities In Hawaiʻi

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Hawaii State Foundation On Culture and The Arts - Arts And Culture Opportunities In Hawaiʻi
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Hawaii State Foundation On Culture and The Arts - Arts & Culture Opportunities

Arts & Culture Opportunities

Image: “Journey II” by Barclay Hill. Copper paneling, glass. 2014. Art in Public Places Collection of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Currently on display in the Prince Kuhio Federal Building, Office of U.S. Senator Brian Schatz. Explore the collection online in our database: sfca.hawaii.gov/app-art (link redirects to Axiell site).
Calls for artists, jobs, grants, and other opportunities
A list of federal, state, and other arts and culture grants/opportunities. Questions regarding a particular opportunity should be directed to the organization listed with the opportunity. Inclusion here should not be interpreted as an endorsement.
Grants

Image: “The Hawaiian Canoe” by Keala Kai. Pencil drawing, 2018. Art in Public Places Collection of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Purchased from the “Art Kauai 2019” exhibit. Explore the collection online in our database: sfca.hawaii.gov/app-art (link redirects to Axiell site).
Questions regarding a particular opportunity should be directed to the organization listed with the opportunity. Inclusion here should not be interpreted as an endorsement.

•   Pili Nā Moku Community Funding Opportunity to support community-based organizations in caring for ʻāina so communities can thrive across generations. Open to nonprofit organization community-led efforts. Statement of Interest due by November 6, 2026. Learn more on the Hawaiʻi Sea Grant website: seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/pili-na-moku-fopportunities.

•   County of Hawaiʻi Dept. of Research and Development Impact Grant for nonprofit organizations open for applications through August 10, 2026. Categories include Film & Creative Industries, Food Security, and Regenerative Tourism. Learn more on the County of Hawaiʻi website: rd.hawaiicounty.gov/funding-grant-resources/impact-grants.

•   Huakaʻi Travel Grants from the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation provide up to $5,000 to Hawaiʻi-based organizations supporting access to Native Hawaiian cultural experiences, practices, and learning opportunities across Hawaiʻi. Rolling applications open through November 30, 2026, or until funds are awarded. Learn more on the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation website: HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org/grants.
Job Postings

Image: “A Journey” by Satoru Abe. Painted wood relief. 1983. Art in Public Places Collection of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Explore the collection online in our database: sfca.hawaii.gov/app-art (link redirects to Axiell site).
Questions regarding a particular opportunity should be directed to the organization listed with the opportunity. Inclusion here should not be interpreted as an endorsement Job listings may close at any time.

•   State of Hawaiʻi Dept. Of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) State Parks: food truck concession space at select parks across Hawaiʻi Island. First submission deadline is August 14, 2026. Learn more on the DLNR website: dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/announcements/mobile-food-truck-concessions-hawaii.

•   State of Hawaiʻi Dept. of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is seeking a Communications Specialist (including digital marketing and website content management). Visit cca.hawaii.gov/home/jobs for application details. Look under Exempt (Non-Civil Service) Positions, Office of the Director.

•   Honolulu Theatre for Youth is seeking a Production and Design Apprentice for the 2026-2027 Season. The apprentice will work alongside an ensemble of professional designers, performers and educators at Hawaiʻi’s only full-time professional theatre. Learn about the paid apprenticeship and how to apply on their website: htyweb.org/employment-auditions-internship.

•   Honolulu Theatre for Youth is seeking a senior administrative manager who is both a skilled administrator and a passionate advocate for cultural and community engagement. Learn about the General Manager position and how to apply on their website: htyweb.org/employment-auditions-internship.

•   Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities is seeking its next Executive Director. Job description and application instructions online: HI Humanities Executive Director Application.

•   Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA) Internships include Jr. Graphic Designer, Lending Collection Manager, and Visitor Engagement Associate. Learn more on their recruitment page: HoMA Opportunities.

•   Bishop Museum job postings include Museum Educator and Asia Pacific (AP) Educator. Learn more on the Bishop Museum website: BishopMuseum.org/careers.

•   State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) job postings currently include Architectural Historian, Forestry and Wildlife Technician, and Park Caretaker. Learn more on the DLNR website: dlnr.hawaii.gov/jobs.

•   State of Hawaiʻi Department of Education job postings currently include Grade 9-12 Arts & Communication Teacher (Keaʻau High School). Learn more and apply at SchoolJobs.com/careers/hawaiipublicschools.

•   State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) job postings currently include Forestry and Wildlife Technician and Information Specialist (communications). Learn more on the DLNR website: dlnr.hawaii.gov/jobs.
Calls for artists

Image: collage of flyers calls for artists and exhibitions. See a list of calls for artists and exhibitions on the SFCA website news page: Calls for artists, exhibition proposals, jobs, and grants (July 2026).

•   Art Kauaʻi 2026 call for artists. Kauaʻi Society of Artists (KSA). Entry day is Saturday, September 12, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Learn more on the KSA website: KauaiSocietyOfArtists.org/artists-calls-for-entry.html. Exhibit September 19 – October 23, 2026. This exhibit has been approved for an Art Acquisition Selection Committee (AASC) visit by the SFCA Board of Commissioners.

•   Drawn to Music: A Collaborative Live Music and Art Event on Saturday, August 8 at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park (Chinatown, Honolulu), 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Create artwork during the event to enter an on-site contest for “Best Drawn to Music Artwork.”

•   Papahānamokuākea Marine National Monument art contest. Categories: ages 8 and under, ages 9-12, and all ages. Entries are due by August 31, 2026. For more information and to enter, please go to the Papahānamokuākea Marine National Monument website: Papahanaumokuakea.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/PMNM-20th-Anni-Art-Contest-Packet-4-pics.pdf.

•   Mālama Wao Akua 2026 celebrating the native species of Maui Nui. Online registration open August 18 – September 1, 2026. Exhibit at Hui Noʻeau Visual Arts Center September 11 – November 6, 2026. Learn more on the Mālama Wao Akua website: MalamaWaoAkua.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/FINAL_MWA-2026-Prospectus.pdf. This exhibit has been approved for an Art Acquisition Selection Committee (AASC) visit by the SFCA Board of Commissioners.

•   Hawaiʻi Craftsmen Annual Statewide Exhibition 2026 online registration open until July 31, 2026. For more information, please visit their website: HawaiiCraftsmen.org/ASE2026.This exhibit has been approved for an Art Acquisition Selection Committee (AASC) visit by the SFCA Board of Commissioners.

•   “Wings and Woodlands: a Tribute to Native Birds and Forests” call for artists. Submissions due October 30, 2026. All ages and experience levels welcome. More information on the Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project website: KauaiForestBirds.org/call-for-submission-art-exhibit-wings-and-woodlands-a-tribute-to-native-birds-and-forests-%f0%9f%8e%a8%f0%9f%95%8a%ef%b8%8f-2/.

•   ʻOhina Filmmakers Lab call for entries: Submit your short script (15 pages or less, any genre) for a chance to be one of 10 Fellows mentored by top Hollywood industry pros at Shangri La this November. Submit entries at FilmFreeway.com/OhinaFilmmakersLab by August 9, 2026.

•   Hawaiʻi Watercolor Society 2026 Open Exhibit “Flow & Fire!” call for entry open until August 7, 2026. All artists invited to enter. Learn more on the Hawaiʻi Watercolor Society website: HawaiiWatercolorSociety.org/2026-open-exhibit.

•   Artists of Hawaiʻi 2026 call to artists open August 15 - September 15, 2026. For details, please visit the Downtown Art Center website: DowntownArtHI.org/artistsofhawaii.

•   16th Annual Abstract Only! Abstract art only (artwork must be non-representational). All media welcomed in 2D, 3D and digital media. Entries due by July 17, 2026. For more information, please go to the call on CallForEntry.org: 2026 Abstract Only! call for entry. This exhibit has been approved for an Art Acquisition Selection Committee (AASC) visit by the SFCA Board of Commissioners.

•   2026 Pacific States Biennial North American printmaking exhibition open to all artists 18 years or older on the North American continent, its islands, and outlying US territories. Entries due by August 16, 2026. For more information, please go to the University of Hawaiʻi Hilo Art Department website: hilo.hawaii.edu/depts/art/psbn-2026. This exhibit has been approved for an Art Acquisition Selection Committee (AASC) visit by the SFCA Board of Commissioners.

•   2026 Full Bleed exhibition highlighting artists and artwork styles in graffiti, urban art, anime and manga at Wailoa Center (Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island). Open to Hawaiʻi based artists. First entry free for Hawaiʻi students. Entries due August 28, 2026. For more information, please go to the call on CallForEntry.org: 2026 Full Bleed call for entry.

•   Garden Island Arts Trashion Show Design Contest & Fashion Show. Make a garment from discarded and recycled materials. Register by September 20, 2026. Learn more on the Garden Island Arts Council website: GardenIslandArts.org/trashion.

•   2026 Hawaiʻi Nei Art Exhibition at Wailoa Center (Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island) open to Hawaiʻi Island residents of all ages. The main subject of the work must be a species native to Hawaiʻi Island. Entries due by October 9, 2026. For more information, please visit the Hawaiʻi Nei Art Exhibition website: HawaiiNeiArtExhibition.org/prospectus.html. This exhibit has been approved for an Art Acquisition Selection Committee (AASC) visit by the SFCA Board of Commissioners.

•   Kahilu Exhibits 2027 Exhibition Proposals. Kahilu seeks proposals for exhibitions for the second half of 2027. Proposals from solo artists, artist groups, curators, cultural practitioners, and community organizations are encouraged. All genres and exhibition types are welcome, including painting, drawing, photography, fibers, mixed media, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, video art, sound art, installation, new media, fashion, jewelry, and traditional crafts. Applications due by August 10, 2026. For more information, please go to the call on CallForEntry.org: Kahilu Exhibits 2027 Call for Exhibition Proposals.
Volunteer

Image: “Ka ʻAi Kupuna: Collaborating with Water” by Hina Puamohala Kneubuhl. Kapa, Maui earth pigments. 2025. Art in Public Places Collection of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Purchased from the “O K Wai Mai مي From Lahaina to the Litani” exhibit at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa Art Gallery. Explore the collection online in our database: sfca.hawaii.gov/app-art (link redirects to Axiell site).

•   Hawaiʻi State Archives seeks volunteers to assist with processing their Hawaiian Music Collection. Learn more on their website: AGS.hawaii.gov/archives/volunteer-at-the-archives.

•   Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA) Seeks Grant Review Panelist Volunteers with a professional background in culture and the humanities to join our grant review panelist roster. Panelists must be Hawaiʻi residents with experience in Heritage & Preservation, Community Arts, Arts Education, and Presentation & Performing Arts. We encourage those with a background in Arts and Healing, Community Development related to arts and culture, cultural practitioners of all disciplines, and new and emerging members of the arts and culture community to apply. Contact the SFCA grants program at SFCAGrants@Hawaii.gov.

•   Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA) Seeks Visual Arts Consultants (VAC) with experience and/or education in the arts. VACs participate in committee visits to local art exhibitions and nominate artworks for the SFCA Art in Public Places Collection. Learn more on the SFCA website: sfca.hawaii.gov/programs-for-artists-presenters/volunteer-to-select-artwork.
About the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts
The Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA), Hawaiʻi’s state government agency, was established by the Hawai‘i State Legislature in 1965 to promote, perpetuate, preserve and encourage culture and the arts, history and the humanities as central to the quality of life of the people of Hawai‘i. SFCA funding is provided by the state of Hawai‘i and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Copyright (C) 2026 State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. All rights reserved.

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The mission of the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts is to promote, perpetuate, preserve and encourage culture and the arts, history and the humanities as central to the quality of life of the people of Hawai‘i. HSFCA funding is provided by the State of Hawai‘i and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Courtesy of: Hawaii State Art Museum

Hawaii State Art Museum

The Hawai'i State Art Museum is dedicated to presenting the largest and finest collection of works by Hawai'i artists that celebrate the diverse artistic and cultural legacy of Hawai'i.

OUR MISSION
To promote, perpetuate, preserve and encourage culture and the arts, history and the humanities as central to the quality of life of the people of Hawai`i. HSFCA funding is provided by the State of Hawai`i and the National Endowment for the Arts. The HSFCA is administratively attached to the Department of Accounting and General Services.

HOURS:
The musuem is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed State and Federal Holdays. Always free admission. For pre-recorded information call 586-0900.

The Hawai'i State Art Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For pre-recorded summary information on the museum, call (808) 586-0900. For current museum program information, call the HSFCA Art in Public Places Program at (808) 586-0305. To arrange an educational tour of the museum, call (808) 586-9958.

For information on the HSFCA; the Hawai'i State Art Museum; HSFCA grants, programs, and services; Hawai'i arts and culture events; and USA and worldwide arts opportunities, visit the HSFCA website, www.hawaii.gov/sfca.

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Hawaii State Foundation On Culture and The Arts - Arts And Culture Opportunities In Hawaiʻi

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